Lesson 3.

8
Trigonometric Equations
3.8.1 Solving Trigonometric Equations
To solve a trigonometric equation, use standard algebraic techniques such as
collecting like terms and factoring. Your preliminary goal in solving a trigonometric
equation is to isolate the trigonometric function involved in the equation. For example,
to solve the equation 2 sin x = 1, divide each side by 2 to obtain

1
sin 𝑥 =
2
1
To solve for x, note in Figure 3.71 that the equation sin 𝑥 = has solutions x =
2
π/6 and x = 5π/6 in the interval [0, 2π]. Moreover, because sin x has a period of 2π there
are infinitely many other solutions, which can be written as

𝜋 5𝜋
𝑥= + 2𝑛𝜋 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 + 2𝑛𝜋 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
6 6

Where n is an integer, as shown in Figure 3.71.

Figure 3.71
1
Another way to show that the equation sin 𝑥 = has infinitely many solutions
2
is indicated in Figure 3.72. Any angles that are coterminal with π/6 or 5π/6 will also be
solutions of the equation.

Figure 3.72
 When solving trigonometric equations, you should write your answer(s) using
exact values rather than decimal approximations.

Example:
Collecting Like Terms

Solve sin 𝑥 + √2 = − sin 𝑥

Solution:
Begin by rewriting the equation so that is isolated on one side of the equation.

Because sin x has a period of 2π, first find all solutions in the interval [0, 2π].
These solutions are x = 5π/4 and x = 7π/4. Finally, add multiples of 2π to each of
these solutions to get the general form

5𝜋 7𝜋
𝑥= + 2𝑛𝜋 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥= + 2𝑛𝜋 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
4 4

where is an integer.

Example:
Extracting Square Roots

Solve 3 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 − 1 = 0.

Solution:
Begin by rewriting the equation so that is isolated on one side of the equation.

Because tan x has a period of π, first find all solutions in the interval [0, π].
These solutions are x = π/6 and x = 5π/6. Finally, add multiples of π to each of these
solutions to get the general form
 𝜋 5𝜋
𝑥= + 𝑛𝜋 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥= + 𝑛𝜋 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
6 6

Where n is an integer.

The equations in Examples above involved only one trigonometric function.

When two or more functions occur in the same equation, collect all terms on one side
and try to separate the functions by factoring or by using appropriate identities. This
may produce factors that yield no solutions, as illustrated in Example below.

Example;
Factoring

Solve cot 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 = 2 cot𝑥.

Solution:
Begin by rewriting the equation so that all terms are collected on one side of the
equation.

By setting each of these factors equal to zero, you obtain

The equation cot x = 0 has the solution x = π/2 [in the interval (0,π)]. No solution
is obtained for cos 𝑥 = ±√2 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 ± √2 are outside the range of the cosine
function. Because cot x has a period of π, the general form of the solution is
obtained by adding multiples of π to x = π/2 to get

𝜋
𝑥 = + 𝑛𝜋 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
2

where n is an integer. You can confirm this graphically by sketching the graph of
𝑦 = cot𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 − 2 cot𝑥, as shown in Figure 3.73. From the graph you can see
3𝜋 𝜋 𝜋
that the x-intercepts occur at − , − , , 3𝜋/2, and so on. These x-intercepts
2 2 2
correspond to the solutions of cot 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥 − 2 cot 𝑥 = 0.
 Figure 3.73

3.8.2 Equations of Quadratic Type

Many trigonometric equations are of quadratic type ax 2 + bx + c = 0. Here are a
couple of examples.

To solve equations of this type, factor the quadratic or, if this is not possible, use
the Quadratic Formula.

Example:
Factoring an Equation of Quadratic Type

Find the solutions of 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 𝑥 − sin 𝑥 − 1 = 0 in the interval [0, 2π].

Algebraic Solution
Begin by treating the equation as a quadratic in and factoring.

Setting each factor equal to zero, you obtain the following solutions in the
interval [0, 2π].
Graphical Solution
Use a graphing utility set in radian mode to graph 𝑦 = 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 𝑥 − sin 𝑥 − 1 for
0 ≤ 𝑥 < 2𝜋, as shown in Figure 3.74. Use the zero or root feature or the zoom
and trace features to approximate the x-intercepts to be

These values are the approximate solutions of 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 − sin 𝑥 − 1 = 0 in the

interval [0, 2π].

Figure 3.74

Example:
Rewriting with a Single Trigonometric Function

Solve 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 + 3 cos 𝑥 − 3 = 0

Solution:
This equation contains both sine and cosine functions. You can rewrite the
equation so that it has only cosine functions by using the identity 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 = 1 −
𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥.

Set each factor equal to zero to find the solutions in the interval [0, 2π].

Because cos x has a period of 2π, the general form of the solution is obtained by
adding multiples of 2π to get

Where n is an integer.
 Sometimes you must square each side of an equation to obtain a quadratic, as
demonstrated in the next example. Because this procedure can introduce extraneous
solutions, you should check any solutions in the original equation to see whether they
are valid or extraneous.

Example:
Squaring and Converting to Quadratic Type

Find all solutions of cos x + 1 = sin x in the interval [0, 2π].

Solution:
It is not clear how to rewrite this equation in terms of a single trigonometric
function. Notice what happens when you square each side of the equation.

Setting each factor equal to zero produces

Because you squared the original equation, check for extraneous solutions.
Check x = π/2

Check x = 3π/2

Check x = π
 Of the three possible solutions, x = 3π/2 is extraneous. So, in the interval [0, 2π],
the only two solutions are x = π/2 and x = π.

3.8.3 Functions Involving Multiple Angles

The next two examples involve trigonometric functions of multiple angles of the
forms sin ku and cos ku. To solve equations of these forms, first solve the equation for
ku, then divide your result by k.

Example:
Functions of Multiple Angles

Solve 2 cos 3t – 1 = 0

Solution:

In the interval [0, 2π], you know that 3t = π/3 and 3t = 5π/3 are the only
solutions, so, in general, you have

Dividing these results by 3, you obtain the general solution

where n is an integer.

Example:
Functions of Multiple Angles

𝑥
Solve 3 tan + 3 = 0.
2

Solution:

In the interval [0, π], you know that x/2 = 3π/4 is the only solution, so, in
general, you have
 𝑥 3𝜋
= + 𝑛𝜋
2 4

Multiplying this result by 2, you obtain the general solution

3𝜋
𝑥= + 2𝑛𝜋 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
2
where n is an integer.

3.8.4 Using Inverse Functions

In the next example, you will see how inverse trigonometric functions can be
used to solve an equation.

Example:
Using Inverse Functions

Solve 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 − 2 tan 𝑥 = 4

Solution:

Setting each factor equal to zero, you obtain two solutions in the interval (-π/2,
π/2). [Recall that the range of the inverse tangent function is (-π/2, π/2)].

Finally, because tan x has a period of π, you obtain the general solution by
adding multiples of π.